The Caribbean: Updates and Links

From the book Go Well: A Summer Field Guide for Graduates and College Students · Updated October 2026

Storm-season plan, entry forms, ferries, and the Caribbean checklist.

Your hurricane plan

Before you book:

Check the season outlook. NOAA publishes its Atlantic hurricane outlook each spring and updates it in August (NOAA).
Choose flexible bookings, with free cancellation where you can.
Buy travel insurance soon after you book. Many policies stop covering a storm as a reason to cancel once it has been named (Go Well, Chapter Three).
Consider islands south of the storm track (Itinerary 3).

Before and during your trip:

Watch the National Hurricane Center at nhc.noaa.gov starting a week before you leave.
Enroll in STEP (Go Well, Chapter Eleven) for alerts from the U.S. embassy, if you’re leaving U.S. territory.
Know your airline’s and hotel’s storm policies, and save their phone numbers.
If a storm is forecast, follow local instructions, leave early if told to, and don’t wait for the last flight.

Both are popular, often cheaper than the U.S. territories, and both need a passport.

The Dominican Republic

Entry: a passport, ideally valid 6 months beyond your stay, plus the free electronic e-Ticket form for every passenger (Go Dominican Republic, U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo).
Safety: the U.S. State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” because of crime. It notes that tourist destinations are generally more heavily policed than cities and rural areas, though violent crime is still a concern (U.S. State Department). Check the current advisory before you book.
Money: Dominican pesos, at about RD$60 to the dollar (Go Well, Chapter Two).
Don’t miss: Santo Domingo’s colonial zone, plus the beaches.

Jamaica

Entry: a passport valid for 6 months (Embassy of Jamaica).
Safety: the U.S. State Department rates Jamaica Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” citing crime and health risks. In its June 23, 2026 update, it kept the level and removed its natural-disaster warning (U.S. State Department). Read the full advisory for areas to avoid.
After Hurricane Melissa: the October 2025 storm hit Jamaica hard. By September 2026, the tourism ministry reported about 70% of the recovery complete, with more than 11,000 hotel rooms returning between 2026 and early 2027 (Jamaica Information Service). Confirm that your hotel and tours are open before you book.
Emergency numbers: 119 for police; 110 for fire and ambulance (U.S. State Department).
Don’t miss: Boston Bay, often called the birthplace of jerk (AFAR).

Water safety: obey beach flags, ask locals about currents, and never swim alone or after drinking.
Sun: reapply reef-safe sunscreen often, and wear a hat.
Nightlife: watch your drink and stick with your group (Go Well, Chapter Eleven).
Excursions: book tours through licensed operators or your accommodation, not from unofficial vendors on the beach.
Driving: confirm which side of the road the island drives on, and avoid driving at night on unfamiliar roads.
Advisories: check the U.S. advisory for any island outside U.S. territory.

☐ I know whether I need a passport for each island on my route.
☐ I’ve completed any required entry forms (the Dominican e-Ticket, the Aruba ED Card) on official sites only.
☐ My bookings are flexible, and I bought travel insurance soon after booking.
☐ I’ve read my policy’s named-storm rule.
☐ I’m watching nhc.noaa.gov in the week before I leave.
☐ Ferry tickets are booked, with a backup plan.
☐ I have reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent.
☐ I know the emergency number for each island.

Prices and rules change. Everything on this page was checked in October 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you book.

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